DA challenges Mkhize to publically release Covid-19 tender companies

DA challenges Mkhize to publically release Covid-19 tender companies

- DA Shadow Minister Siviwe Gwarube has challenged Zweli Mkhize to reveal all the contracts awarded by his department

- This comes as the SIU investigates numerous companies for alleged Covid-19 relief fund fraud

- The opposition party is adamant that the public cannot stand by while looting runs rampant

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The Democratic Alliance has called on Health Minister Zweli Mkhize to go public with all companies that have been awarded contracts with his department.

Shadow Minister of Health Siviwe Gwarube has revealed that the opposition party intends to make a formal request to have the companies and their board of directors revealed:

"The DA will write to Minister Mkhize and submitting Parliamentary questions requesting this information as a matter of urgency. Once this information is made public, we will do our due diligence to ensure that politically connected individuals have not been the chief beneficiaries of these contracts and that, in fact, these services are being provided in the provinces.
"In addition, this is the kind of information that the Special Investigative Unit (SIU) should be considering in looking into corruption relating to all Covid-19 funds as per the President’s proclamation."
coronavirus
The Health Minister has been challenged to release the name of tender beneficiaries. Image: GCIS
Source: Original

READ ALSO: Andile Ramaphosa: Covid-19 project raises questions over R6m funding

The Special Investigative Unit is currently probing companies accused of having been awarded tenders irregularly from the Covid-19 relief fund. Gwarube is adamant that the nation cannot simply allow the systematic looting of public funds amid the pandemic:

"We cannot simply allow the systemic looting of public money in the middle of this pandemic to go unchallenged. We also cannot wait until crucial resources are squandered before action is taken.
"Retrospective investigations do little to provide the people of South Africa with the relief they require. Corruption is not a victimless crime. Money stolen takes away from services designed for the benefit of the public."

Earlier, Briefly.co.za reported that the DA has questioned a Covid-19 project linked to President Cyril Ramaphosa's son.

Andile Ramaphosa was involved in a R6 million project to equip Gauteng taxis with tech to prevent the spread of Covid-19 in light of recent amendments to the law. The DA wants to know if the government had a hand in funding the project amid numerous allegations of corruption.

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Source: Briefly News

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